The 100th anniversary of the birth of Jiří Trnka was included into the official UNESCO list of anniversaries for 2012.

The Czech Republic nominated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jiří Trnka (1912—1969), prominent Czech painter, graphic artist, scenographer, illustrator and legend of Czech puppetry and animated film, as the main global anniversary for 2012.

On this occasion, Czech Centres, dedicated to promoting the Czech Republic and its culture on the international scale have, in cooperation with other partners, prepared a panel exhibition presenting the best of Trnka’s extensive art works. It was opened in February in Munich and will later be presented in e.g. Moscow, Sofia, Tokyo, Madrid, Vienna, Bucharest and The Hague.

Visitors will have a chance to see the key designs and valuable pieces of his print art work and utility graphic art, free work and of course his puppets, theatre and film work by means of scanned originals and photographs. Trnka’s exhibits from Expo 50 in Brussels and Expo 67 in Montreal will of course also be exhibited. The presentation is focused on Trnka’s film work and emphasises his key role in the world-famous tradition of Czech animation. The digitally presented exhibits come from private collections and funds of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the National Film Archive, the West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen, the East Bohemian Gallery in Pardubice and other institutions. The National Film Archive prepared two collections from Trnka’s nine most influential films for this anniversary. They include dialogue transcriptions in English, Russian, German, Spanish, Italian and French.

Within the network of Czech Centres and embassies, Trnka’s jubilee will be commemorated, apart from exhibitions and retrospective films, by projections, festival performances, lectures and workshops throughout the whole world.

Project coordinator:
Czech Centres

Cooperating organizations
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, National Film Archive in Prague, Czech Television, East Bohemian Gallery in Pardubice, West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen and other partners